Military personnel involved in prostitution scandal have security clearance suspended

The Pentagon has suspended security clearances of military personnel implicated in the Colombia prostitution scandal.

The incident embarrassed the United States and overshadowed Barack Obama's participation in the summitPhoto: Dennis Brack-Pool/Getty Images

6:48PM BST 23 Apr 2012

US Secret Service and military personnel allegedly took as many as 21 women back to their beachfront hotel on the night of April 11-12, ahead of President Barack Obama's trip to the seaside city of Cartagena to attend the Summit of the Americas.

They were discovered when one woman complained about money, leading to the involvement of the local police.

"We have suspended the security clearances of individuals there, pending results of this investigation," Leon Panetta, the US defence secretary, said travelling with him on his flight to Colombia.

"Frankly, my biggest concern is the issue of security and what could possibly have been jeopardised by virtue of this kind of behaviour."

Eleven US military personnel have been implicated in the scandal so far, along with 12 Secret Service agents. Within the military, six of them are from the US Army, two from the Marines, two from the Navy and one from the Air Force.

It was not clear how many of those military personnel had security clearances, however. None of them have been charged with any crime at this point.

"Those who had security clearances, those have been suspended," said Pentagon spokesman George Little.

Six Secret Service agents have already left the service in the wake of the scandal.

Hiring prostitutes, no matter the legal status where the act takes place, is prohibited for US military personnel. Those convicted under the military justice system can be imprisoned for up to a year and be discharged dishonourably.

Prostitution is legal in "tolerance zones" in Colombia.

The incident embarrassed the United States and overshadowed Mr Obama's participation in the summit. It may be the worst scandal in modern times for the Secret Service, tasked with protecting the US president and other senior officials.

It was also a black eye for the military.

"We expect our people wherever they are to abide by the highest standards of conduct," Mr Panetta said.